Writing Competition Entry - BSDuck

BSDuck · August 24

Before the actual entry, a few notes:

Notes (read first)

I coincidentally ended up with the same protagonists as Hades' entry, but I promise they're different :P

I'm overall very happy with the characters and the emotional moments, but the fights felt a little mid, probably because this is my first time in a while writing in first person narrative.

Reading this is 10x better with AZALI's music on the background of the fight scenes.

Any ideas on what I the title should be?

There will probably be an epilogue made for this.

This is totally unedited so there are probably some spelling/grammar mistakes.

There are 2 references (and probably a few more I forgot) I'm really proud of sneaking in, see if you can find both.

I tried to make this way more kid-friendly than Smoke and Flame, and although it still has some more mature storytelling, I think it doesn't need to be spoiler blocked.

The castle collapsed right before my eyes, burning down with the very hatred it caused. I smile at the destruction that lay before me, the smoldering bodies of Pokemon who had sacrificed themselves to the cold grip of my blade littering the floor. Their deaths gave me strength. I had turned this place to ruin in less than an hour. He would stand no chance against me. I trod through the wasteland I had created, ready to wipe out the kingdom with whatever it takes. A slight cough came from the ground. A Shelmet that had somehow survived thanks to its hard shell. Without hesitation, I finished it off with a shadow claw. I had to kill if I wanted to stay alive, their souls gave me strength. I didn't want to be this cruel, but the world forced me to, and I embraced it. That was just my life, being a ghost-type Zoroark.

That day, I dreamt of a blade of fire, repeatedly slashing at me, waking me from my slumbe…

"Get up, Ari! We need to move quickly, his soldiers are here! They've found our hideout!"

It was Silas, the Ceruledge who had been working with me to take down the ruler of the kingdom. He was serious, a master of combat, and very good at forgetting I was nocturnal.

"You know I need my sleep to fight!" I yawn.

"If you don't come and kick this patrol in the backside, we're as good as dead once they tell him our location."

"Fine. Just this once, but only if you let me get back to sleep afterwards!" I yell as my blade pierces one of the guards in their neck. Silas melts another guard's armour with his fire swords, before I finish it off. A Gallade, clearly the leader from its feather adorned armour, pummeled me with close combat. The hits did nothing.

"Not gonna work on a ghost type, isn't it? You knights aren't the smartest lot, are you?" I laugh as I slam them into the ground with a shadow claw and combo with a psycho cut, knocking it out cold. I then proceed to use poltergeist to throw the Gallade in front of Silas, blocking a Pawniard's night slash from hitting my ghost-type partner, before he counterattacks with a bitter blade. Within minutes, the patrol of royal guards had been reduced to a pile of molten armour and a few hostages. "Don't disturb my sleep, or I'll send my claw into your chest like I did to your colleagues," I threaten to a bunch of caged Farfetch'd. With that, I went back to sleep, and had dreams of the aromatic smell of cooked leek.

Tonight was the night market. A bustling place where Pokemon from all across the region would gather here to trade goods, discuss, and sell rare artifacts for obnoxious prices, especially that Kecleon. And one of those artifacts in particular would be able to easily help them win this battle. The Sword of Valour. It had the power to tear right past any sort of protection, straight to the heart. An item that powerful doesn't come cheap, which is why I'm taking it not with money, but with stealth. Silas said it should be near the north-east tower. It's well guarded, though. I'll need to be careful. I crept up to the front gates, where two Kingambit watched over the humungous iron gates vigilantly. Disguising myself as a friendly-looking Cinderace using an illusion, I wave up at them. The guards nodded, before opening the gates for me. Always works, I cunningly smile, transforming into a normal Zoroark now that I'm out of the guard's view.

When I looked up from my disguised claws, I saw the market for the very first time. Hundreds of market stalls filled with chattering Pokemon and all kinds of trinkets shone in front of me. Stages with several performing bands lay scattered across the market, sounds of violins and guitars ebbing from each one. Flamigo dance all around, their elegant feathers forming patterns that were so mesmerizing. Remember, Ari. You're here for the Sword only. My eyes darted around, trying to distinguish the towers through the overwhelming crowd. Found it, I mutter, glancing at a massive spire adorned in bright green banners. On those banners was a face that I despised just as much as the royal flag.

Lucifer, king of the region, and the Sirfetch'd that led the royal guard. Many Pokemon regarded him as a hero. I could see the resemblance, with his glistening white feathers and brave demeanor. But a knight and a hero are two very different things. And I was here to prove that difference, to make him regret what he did to me. If it wasn't for Silas, I would have died on the very streets he supposedly swore to protect. As annoying as that Ceruledge is, I owe everything to him. As I approach the north-east tower, a loud cry snaps me out of my thoughts.

"A rare, one of a kind weapon! Get yours today for only 9999 Poke!"

The Sword of Valour! It must be nearby. My hollow amber eyes turn towards a large gilded store, adorned with colourful lights with a sign reading Tink's Trinkets. That's where they sell rare artifacts. The sword must be there. I approach the store owner, a Tinkatuff with a tattered poncho and a large golden hammer. "Heya there, welcome to Tink's Trinkets, watcha after?"

"I've heard of a certain weapon that I want to… purchase."

"You mean th… wait… that voice sounds familiar…"

The illusion dissipated, revealing my wispy fur and shadow-infused sword. "That's right, it's me!" I suddenly lunged forwards, wounding her with my blade and grabbing the Sword of Valour in my other claw. "Hey, that Zoroark stole my sword! That thing's worth a lotta money, y'know!"

"Selling it would be a bit of a waste, wouldn't it?" I stab the store owner directly with the sword. The life in her eyes slowly fades until they resemble mine. An unhinged grin spreads across my foxlike face as I turn to the group of Farfetch'd that had been unfortunate enough to guard the sword tonight. They raised their swords at me with an angry glare. It made me laugh more than it intimidated me. "How nice, you lot even came with a silver platter!"

I dash right over them, slamming down with my mace and smashing them into the ground. The golden blade in my other hand dances seamlessly through their armour, incapacitating the entire squad. A throat chop cut through their chainmail, revealing red soaked feathers. Let these bodies be a message to Lucifer that he won't be alive much longer. By now, all the Pokemon have fled their stores, cowering behind stacks of wooden crates that had been knocked over during the carnage. My work is done. I stroll towards the gate with the crimson flecked sword displayed in my claws, a light warning to the kingdom. The Kingambit guarding the gates threw a powerful sucker punch at me, of which I dodged effortlessly. I was never going to be the one attacking; violet blades of energy struck them before they realised what was going on. Silas swiftly decimated them with bitter blade.

"For too long, evil Pokemon have destroyed our homeland, taking many lives along with them. I, Lucifer, king of the region and brave knight, am asking you to join my army, so we can rid this world of darkness once and for all! We shall take back our glorious kingdom!"

Applause ran through the massive dome, Pokemon cheering all around me. I just laughed. His speech amused me. The king was getting so desperate that he was willing to send innocent Pokemon with barely any training into battle against two of the most dangerous fighters in the region. What a hero he was. I leave the stadium, knowing I would eventually have to kill so many of the Pokemon around me. I looked forward to it.

Fort Laukur, the largest castle in the entire region. Massive fortified walls that threatened to crush you under their shadow. Wrought iron gates made from metals said to be forged by hell itself. And more importantly, home of the royal guard. And tonight, the king will be staying here to train the recruits for his new army. The perfect opportunity for me to finally put a sword in his throat. I chuckle as I imagine the look on Lucifer's face when I wipe out his entire army in one night. And then I'll finally drag his feathered backside off the throne where it belongs. "We're here, Ari." Silas's voice muttered "Inside these walls is our final step to victory. We'll make him regret what he's done."

"He won't be able to regret anything when he's dead."

I polish the blade with a piece of torn cloth. I want to see its lustrous golden shine once more before the battle would taint it red forever. The Sword of Valour, huh? Is this truly its purpose?

"Open these gates, or say goodbye to your precious lives." I threaten with a laugh to the wounded guards.

The gates opened with a loud thud. The blade was already dulled red. In the massive marble courtyard stood all kinds of Pokemon, armed with various weapons and clad in the unmistakable royal armour. These were all the recruits who had overcome the hardest of training. On the balcony overlooking the training was Lucifer himself. How typical of a king to let his army do the dirty work. "Hey Luce, miss me?"

My mace slams straight into an Ursaring, splitting its armour. I strike it again, and it drops down onto the floor right in front of Lucifer's eyes. I hear the faint yell of more soldiers heading to the courtyard. My mace will give them a warm welcome. "Looks like more are coming." Silas yells.

"That's only more for me!"

A Bisharp jabs my throat. I feel barely any pain, despite the gouge it left in me. "Did you actually think that would work?" It stares in shock, before a night slash cleaves through any hopes it had of surviving this. I see burning bodies all around. Silas skillfully dodges hits with phantom force before wiping out a Dewott with just a single flare blitz. The smoke fills my lungs. I u-turn into a Farfetch'd, and combo it with bitter malice, launching it into the floor. The smell of the fire reminds me of the burning hatred inside me.

A Donphan rushes me with rollout. It lands straight into my counter, which releases a burst of energy that sends the Pokemon flying. It winces as I plant a shadow claw straight past its protection. I dance over a throng of soldiers, who swipe at me desperately with their swords. I casually dodge their futile attacks. I lacerate them in one fell swoop of a night slash. Do they really care about their king enough that they sacrifice their lives for him? I suppose their loyalty to their selfish ruler is what keeps me alive. Every time they die, I feel even more alive.

Shadows pierce through the last of the king's army. An Escavalier yells for me to stop. I have no such mercy, as it soon finds out from a shadow claw. Turning to face Lucifer, I yell "What an army you had! It took me more than half an hour to wipe it out!"

"They were still in training. Do you really think it's right to kill Pokemon who barely know how to fight?"

"Whatever it takes to kill you," Silas coldly interrupts.

"So you value my death over thousands of lives. Have you any shred of honour?"

"Honour has never been my thing"

A crimson burst of energy strikes out, reducing the balcony Lucifer stood on to rubble.
"Then I will show you the true strength of a knight."
He leaps onto his shield, and uses a brutal swing to propel his shield directly at me. The dark-type move tears into me, and it hurts. The pain only makes me stronger. I dodge out of the way before the Sirfetch'd can land another hit. His lunge instead lands straight into a sucker punch from Silas. Catching him off guard, my claws tear up his armour. He got lucky that time, that it was his armour and not him. We exchange blows, each hit more powerful than the last; yet he never shows any sign of exhaustion. A flare blitz strikes his shield, deflecting the attack easily. A close combat pummels a confused Silas into the floor. Wait, he can hit ghost types?! A look of horror flashes in my heartless eyes. Brick break slams me into a wall. "It's over, Ari. Give up and leave my kingdom in peace." With a look of determination, Lucifer swings his excalibur, piercing through my illusion. The Sword of Valour sinks into him from behind.

"Give it up, Luce. You're a dead duck."

"What do you seek to gain from this…" the wounded Sirfetch'd chokes.

"I guess you'll never find out." I smirk as Silas points a sword at Lucifer's throat.

"No… this isn't some plan to kill you… I just want to know."

I give a signal, and the Ceruledge's blade of fire slowly lowers. Let me handle him, Silas.

"You're as good of a king as a Bidoof. You say you're a hero, yet you send Pokemon to die every day."

"That's because you're the one killing them."

"You would kill them too if you were me."

"No I wouldn't. I fight for justice, not fun."

"Have a feel of my fur. And realise who you really are."

The look of horror on Lucifer's face when he touched my paw was certainly one I never thought he would ever make. A small, unmistakable tear of regret rolled down his well-groomed feathers. He had seen what I meant.

"I… never realised. You… can't stay alive without…"

"I'm no hero. But neither are you."
His last dying moments are spent filled with regret.